Personally, I don’t think I’d ever want to go to Gotham City. Blüdhaven is a strong “maybe” for me, only because it’s home to Nightwing and his adorable puppy. But Gotham City feels haunted by Arkham Asylum, given the institution’s spotty track record. This is why Arkham City: The Order of the World by Dan Watters, Dani, Dave Stewart and Aditya Bidikar is the perfect Weekend Escape for spooky season. No life-threatening trip to New Jersey is necessary here. So settle in, turn off the lights and don’t forget to check for monsters hiding under the bed.
 

The Premise:

DC’s Infinite Frontier era kicked off with the destruction of Arkham Asylum in Gotham City, an event known as “A-Day.” The Joker attacked the facility, killing almost everyone inside, including inmates and staff. Whoever didn’t die in the attack escaped into Gotham, a truth that is kept hidden from the public. 

Arkham City: The Order of the World is told from the perspective of Dr. Jacosta Joy, the only psychologist who survived A-Day. With Arkham now empty, its surviving inmates wander the shadows of Gotham. Dr. Joy must track down her former patients and defend their humanity in a city that sees them only as monsters.
 

Let’s Talk Talent:

Arkham City brings together a creative team of writer Dan Watters (Knight Terrors: Detective Comics, Lucifer), artist Dani Strips (The Low, Low Woods), colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Aditya Bidikar. This story is an absolute feast for the eyes, mind and heart as Watters’ writing examines the pitfalls of Gotham’s public health system for patients, healthcare workers and the public. I can already hear the alarm bells, but don’t worry, the topic is approached with sensitivity, empathy and nuance for everyone involved. Instead of making the former patients of Arkham monsters to be gawked at, readers are invited to understand what these people are going through and the ways in which they view the world.

Dani is instantly recognizable as an artist, and her distinctive, ink-heavy style is a perfect complement to Watters’ story. Her artwork has an otherworldly feel to it suited for Arkham City: The Order of the World’s many outcasts. Characters like the Ten-Eyed Man (a former Arkham inmate with an eye on each of his finger tips) strikingly contort themselves on the page, blurring the line between beauty and “ugliness.” Dave Stewart’s coloring feels right at home with Dani’s inks, matching the stark flatness of the line art without drawing attention away from it.

Lastly, the book wouldn’t be complete without Aditya Bidikar’s lettering, which literally gives voice to some of the most haunting characters in comics. Bidikar brings out the uniqueness of each character with their own distinct font and balloon shape for dialogue and narration. The letters of the Ten-Eyed Man’s dialogue float around the balloon, adding a sing-songy feel to his words. The vampire Nocturna’s balloons are squiggly, with an elegant grey inner line that imbues her dialogue with a sense of order and formality—two things readers wouldn’t expect from a former Arkham inmate. Arkham City’s art hammers home an essential point about this book: you’ve never seen Gotham City quite like this.
 

A Few Reasons to Read:

• Arkham Asylum is a familiar place, but Arkham City digs deeply into the history of psychology to look at the institution like never before. It presents the perspectives of former inmates without judgement, even when they do questionable things like steal someone’s lower jaw. It’s a story led by empathy, as opposed to punishment.
   
• Ten-Eyed Man is a darkly funny character, with a type of grotesque, deadpan humor that makes him instantly loveable.

• Batman isn’t in this story. Yes, while he’s one of the most popular characters of all time, Arkham City doesn’t need Batman in order to examine the failings of Gotham City. And because he isn’t in the story, he doesn’t distract from the excellent themes being discussed.
   
• If you love Batman’s rogues’ gallery, however, there’s a good chance at least one of your favorites is in this book. Dani’s artwork makes sure they look their best, too.
   

Why It’s Worth Your Time:

Arkham Asylum may be one of the most notorious locations in the DC Universe, but Arkham City: The Order of the World isn’t needlessly edgy or exploitative. The most radical thing about Arkham City is that it envisions a future for Gotham where people experiencing mental health crises are met with genuine care, rather than the end of a police baton. The story seeks to expand the realm of possibility for what “sanity” is, rather than resorting to tired stereotypes.

Put simply, there’s never been a book at DC quite like Arkham City: The Order of the World. Its thoughtful writing, gorgeous art, and moving story truly makes it a worthy successor to Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth.
 

Arkham City: The Order of the World by Dan Watters, Dani, Dave Stewart and Aditya Bidikar is available as a softcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and online retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Jules Chin Greene writes about comics for DC.com, and his work can also be found at Nerdist, Popverse and Multiverse of Color. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @JulesChinGreene.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Jules Chin Greene and do not necessarily reflect those of DC Entertainment or Warner Bros., nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.